Conductive Liquid Three Dimensional Printer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for printing conductive material, comprising:
- a structure incorporating at least one first chamber to accumulate a liquid conductive material;
an electromagnetic coil to produce a radially-directed electromotive force to expel said liquid conductive material through at least one orifice.
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Abstract
A printer that produces objects from liquid conductive material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the printhead has a chamber for containing liquid conductive material surrounded by an electromagnetic coil. A DC pulse is applied to the electromagnetic coil, resulting in a radially-inward force on the liquid conductive material. The force on the liquid conductive material in the chamber results in a drop being expelled from an orifice. In response to a series of pulses, a series of drops fall onto a platform in a programmed pattern, resulting in the formation of an object.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for printing conductive material, comprising:
a structure incorporating at least one first chamber to accumulate a liquid conductive material;
an electromagnetic coil to produce a radially-directed electromotive force to expel said liquid conductive material through at least one orifice.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for printing conductive material, comprising:
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a. providing a liquid conductive material to a generally cylindrical first chamber; b. partially filling said first chamber with the liquid conductive material; c. applying a radially-inward directed electromotive force circumferentially to said liquid conductive material in said first chamber; d. causing a drop of liquid conductive material to be expelled from an orifice. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device for printing conductive material, comprising:
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A supply of solid conductive material, wherein said solid conductive material is fed into a structure having an upstream and a downstream end;
said structure incorporating a channel having an inlet at its upstream end, wherein said channel incorporates a wire guide and gas seal;
said channel being proximate a tundish, wherein said tundish is enclosed by a furnace;
wherein said furnace heats the tundish to a temperature sufficient to melt a solid conductive material;
said channel opening at its downstream end to a cylindrical first chamber in liquid communication with said channel;
said first chamber being enclosed by a generally bell shaped housing having an upper housing extending radially-outward and downstream from said channel at an angle;
said first chamber having a lower housing comprising a wall extending in a downstream direction from said upper housing and generally parallel with said channel and a bottom extending from the downstream end of the wall inward and generally perpendicular to said wall;
said first chamber containing a partition to direct liquid conductive material exiting the downstream end of said channel to a perimeter of said first chamber, wherein said partition has a generally circular section with a surface generally parallel to an x-axis and a y-axis disposed radially-outward and downstream to a generally conical section;
said partition having a set of dividers disposed proximate and to and upstream said circular section and said conical section of said partition;
said conical section having a radially-inward circular partition platform generally parallel to the x-axis and y-axis;
said center portion being disposed axially downstream of the channel opening such that liquid conductive material exiting the downstream end of said channel contacts said partition platform and flows to a perimeter of said first chamber through a set of gaps between said set of dividers, wherein said dividers are equidistantly disposed relative to adjacent said dividers;
said first chamber being proximate at its downstream end to a second chamber;
said second chamber being in liquid communication with said first chamber;
said second chamber serving to damp negative pressure on the liquid conductive material, thereby allowing said second chamber to remain filled with liquid conductive material;
said second chamber having an orifice at its downstream end to expel a drop of liquid conductive material;
said second chamber and said orifice being incorporated into a generally cylindrical nozzle concentric with and extending downstream said housing;an electromagnetic coil disposed adjacent and radially-outward said housing and surrounding said first chamber therein;
said coil being operable to produce a magnetic field being axially-directed within said first chamber resulting in a radially-directed electromotive force applied circumferentially to said liquid conductive material;
wherein said electromagnetic coil is further disposed adjacent said nozzle and surrounding said second chamber and orifice therein and displaced radially-outward from said orifice;
said electromagnetic coil receiving a pulse of DC current resulting in the radially-directed electromotive force on said liquid conductive material;
said channel being connected to an inlet for an inert gas thereby directing the inert gas to flow through the device;
said housing being enclosed in a housing chamber;
said housing chamber being connected to an additional inlet for inert gas allowing said inert gas to flow around said housing and said nozzle to prevent oxidation of said liquid conductive material.
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Specification